For the last five years, our 1990 Toyota Pickup has utilized a Redarc BCDC1225D as its DC-to-DC charger and solar charge controller. The BCDC’s diminutive size makes it an ideal choice for small battery banks in small vehicles. But, as electrical loads grow, battery capacity must keep up, and charger power output must follow. Redarc’s…
Leaders of the Pack: Backpacks for the Overland Traveler
In How to Camp Out, Civil War veteran and avid outdoorsman John Mead Gould cautioned against overpacking, being in a hurry to spend money on new inventions, and generally taking on too much stuff, too many miles, and too much weight. However, one item he deemed indispensable was the haversack—a small bag “furnished with shoulder…
Bellman CX25P Stovetop Espresso and Snow Peak Field Barista Coffee Grinder
Photography by Richard Giordano, Lead photo courtesy of Bellman Bellman CX25P Stovetop Espresso and Steamer I have used moka pots in the past with the hope they would deliver the espresso I desired, but that was never the case. This Bellman, on the other hand, produces a flavor and texture very similar to a full…
NEMO Dagger Osmo Lightweight 3P Tent :: Field Tested
After an undulating 14-kilometer hike with 35 pounds on my back, I opened the NEMO Dagger Osmo three-person tent for the very first time under the looming shadow of Mount Assiniboine—motivated by a relentless cloud of thirsty mosquitoes. Perhaps this wasn’t the smartest plan in the world, but it made for a perfect opportunity to…
Cozy His and Hers Sweaters from Royal Robbins :: Field Tested
Photography by Richard Giordano Heritage brand Royal Robbins was founded in 1968 by American rock-climbing pioneers Royal and Liz Robbins. Together, they tested unclimbed routes in the Yosemite Valley, Royal specializing in big-wall ascents throughout the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, while Liz was the first woman to climb the face of Half Dome in 1967….
Primus Stoves – Field Tested
Primus stoves are well-known and well-loved in the backpacking, camping, and overlanding worlds. Overland Journal’s Richard Giordano recently tested two of their lightweight options for building a simple and straightforward mobile kitchen. Primus Lite XL Stove System A Lightweight Backpacking Stove With Plenty of Features Primus promises the Lite XL stove system is lightweight, fuel-efficient,…
2008 Toyota Tundra TRD Off-Road Overland Build :: Overland Explorer Vehicles Alpine Camper Upgrades
The Overland Explorer Vehicles Alpine camper comes well-equipped for comfortable off-grid camping, but for our purposes, not entirely ready for full-time life on the road with the flatbed model. Sure, there are factory options available that would provide a turnkey camper, but we chose to order ours as simple (and lightweight) as possible with no…
2008 Toyota Tundra TRD Off-Road Overland Build :: MITS Alloy Tray and OEV Alpine Camper Installation
One of the biggest reasons we embarked on this project was to upgrade from a small wedge camper on a mini truck to a larger, more comfortable camper with generous inside living space—something that we could travel and work in for months at a time. We knew that a flatbed camper would allow for a…
Field Tested :: Planar Diesel Air Heater 2D-HA-PU5-(TR) Truck Kit
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2021 Issue. As the wind howls across a frozen lake, our 1990 Toyota Pickup sways back and forth. It’s winter in the Rocky Mountains, and the snow falling sideways from the dark grey sky is proving it. We hop into our Go Fast Camper, battered…
Toyota USA Unveils Three Concept Truck Builds at SEMA 2021
Toyota unveiled three truck-specific build concepts at the 2021 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. What we’ve seen of the Tacozilla Tacoma Camper and TRD Desert Chase Tundra so far has been via Toyota USA’s YouTube channel, so we’re pleased to finally put eyes on them (along with the Tacoma Overlanding Concept Vehicle) under the…
You Just Got Back From an Epic Journey—Now What?
“The real work of an expedition begins when you return.” –Louise Arner Boyd Many of us put in the work to plan, save for, and finally embark on a long-term adventure without a single thought as to what we’ll do when we get home. At the time of departure, the last thing you want to…
Foxy Lady—Factory Race Series Fox Shocks for a Tundra
We’ve run Old Man Emu suspension on two different trucks, over a total of 150,000 kilometres. Over 50,000 of those kilometres covered roads from Canada to Argentina. It’s really hard to argue against the attributes. Old Man Emu performs better than most factory suspension systems (especially on loaded vehicles), requires almost zero maintenance, costs a…
You Don’t Need Lockers! (Well, I don’t.) Nitro Helical Worm Gear LSD Installation
Our little 1990 Toyota pickup travelled effortlessly from Canada to Argentina and back with factory front and rear open differentials. Yes, we went overlanding without lockers! Could we have gone farther off the beaten track with some sort of traction-aiding differential? Most definitely. Were we willing to spend the money on a locker or two…
Project Vehicle: 1990 Toyota Pickup Corbeau Baja RS Seat Installation
You might be surprised at what one of our first important vehicle upgrades was after completing a 65,000-kilometer overland journey. Replacing the suspension? Swapping the motor? Incorrect. On the top of the list for our 1990 Toyota pickup before undertaking another long trip were the seats. They looked fantastic, especially considering how much dirt and…
Project Vehicle: Desk To Glory’s 1990 Toyota Pickup – Little Red v2.0
Prior to its resurrection in 2013, our 1990 Toyota Pickup “Little Red” had been ridden hard and put away wet. It was left for dead in the back forty with flat tires and a cracked windshield that leaked like a sieve. Mould, rust, and long grass consumed the 25-year-old beast. Despite the pickup’s unfortunate condition,…